When it was first announced that Atlanta would have an NHL franchise starting in 1972, many hockey observers thought that a team based in the southern United States was a ludicrous and foolish move. And they were right - to a point. They finished near the bottom of the league in attendance each year, and never won a playoff series during their eight seasons in Georgia.

In 1980, a soft economy in Atlanta caused the team to be sold to interests in Calgary, and the Atlanta Flames became the Calgary Flames. In their first year in Alberta, led by Kent Nilsson[?]'s 49 goals, the Flames won their first two playoff series (a sweep over the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round and a seven-game victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round) before bowing out to the Minnesota North Stars in the semi-finals.